Nasopharyngeal tumors: these five symptoms need attention

In people's bodies, tumors in different parts cause different symptoms. Generally speaking, if a tumor appears in the nasopharynx, it will often have the following manifestations.

Nasal symptoms:

The tumor blocks the posterior nares, causing nasal congestion, which is usually unilateral. As the tumor grows larger, it may block both sides.

Ear symptoms:

If the tumor blocks or compresses the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube, it may cause tinnitus, stuffy ears, and hearing loss on that side, or be accompanied by tympanic effusion.

Swollen lymph nodes:

Cervical lymph node metastasis may occur early, often first occurring in the upper group of deep cervical lymph nodes, that is, the lymph nodes located below the mastoid tip or at the anterior edge of the upper sternocleidomastoid muscle. It starts on one side and then develops into bilateral ones. The lump is painless, hard, has poor mobility, and grows rapidly and becomes fixed. Subsequently, the middle and lower groups of lymphatic cords on the side of the neck were successively affected and fused into a huge mass.

Headache:

It is often caused by tumors destroying the skull base and spreading inside the skull to affect the trigeminal nerve. The pain is localized in the temporal, parietal or occipital area of ​​the affected side. In the early stage, it is intermittent and the location is not fixed. In the late stage, it is continuous severe pain and the location is fixed.

Cranial nerve symptoms:

The tumor enters the skull through the foramen rupture, often invading the V and VI cranial nerves first, and then affecting the IV, III, and I cranial nerves. In addition to headaches, facial numbness, diplopia, blurred vision, ptosis, paralysis of the extraocular muscles, and even fixed eyes or blindness may also occur. Enlarged deep cervical lymph nodes may also compress the IX, X, XI and XII cranial nerves that pass through the base of the skull, causing soft palate paralysis, dysphagia, hoarseness, tongue deviation, etc.